INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT (IIIT)
500 Grove St., Herndon, VA 20170 Tel 703 471 1133 Fax 703 471 3922
Summer Internship Program 2008/Structure & Organization
The Summer Internship Program is structured to provide the students with intensive instruction in Arabic language, Islamic studies, directed research in an area of their interest, and administrative work at IIIT. The coursework is divided into two types: 1) Core courses that all students should take. These include: Arabic language, Quran and Sunna, Islamic Jurisprudence and Islamic History and Civilization; and 2) Elective courses such as Organization and leadership, Strategic Planning, Research Methods, Islamic Financial Systems, Faith-Based Entrepreneurship, Comparative Religion, Islamic Reform Movements and Media Criticism.
1. Core Courses
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Arabic Language
Three levels of Arabic will be offered: elementary, mid level and advanced. Each level would constitute a course and involves 15 hours of instruction and practice during two weeks. A daily morning class of 90 minutes will be dedicated to Arabic language for a total of six weeks. All students will take a placement test during the first day of classes to determine their level of competence.
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Quran and Sunna
This course introduces the student to the history and the methods of approaching Quran and Sunna. It has two components: the first one focuses on understanding the Quran: its history, the major themes of the Quran, the different methods of approaching the Quran, the major issues involving the Quran and the contemporary challenges and how to address them. The second unit or component focuses on the Sunna: its history, its relationship with the Quran, the major scholars of Hadith and their contributions, the major issues involving the Sunna historically and their contemporary manifestations; and the appropriate Islamic responses to those contemporary challenges. Each of these two components will take 12 hours in the course of two weeks.
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Fiqh or Islamic Jurisprudence
Two levels of Islamic Jurisprudence will be offered: an introductory level which deals with the basic principles of Islamic jurisprudence, the history of Fiqh as a category of thought and practice with a focus on the major schools of Fiqh both Sunni and Shia and a reflection on the biographies of the Imams of the major schools of jurisprudence in relation to the political and social dynamics of their times. The second level introduces the higher principles of Islamic law (Maqasid al Sharia) in general terms and as they apply to contemporary realities. In particular, this unit focuses on the development of an Islamic jurisprudence for minorities ( Fiqh al Aqaliyyat). Each of these two levels will take 12 hours in the course of two weeks.
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Islamic History and Civilization I & II
Part I of this course introduces the student to the context, the essence and manifestations of Islamic Civilization and history. It explores the origins of Islamic civilization in Arabia: its geography, demographics, languages and history, religious traditions and culture. It expounds the concept of Tawhid as the essence of Islam, the core of Islamic civilization. From there it presents the different forms this essence has taken and the different manifestations of it in politics, science, law, literature, arts, architecture as well as philosophy, theology ( Kalam) and mysticism (Tasawwuf). Part II of the course addresses the contemporary issues and challenges facing Islamic civilization, particularly in relation to the West, from an Islamic viewpoint. This would include issues such as democracy, human rights, social justice, women’s rights, the environment, etc. Each of these two parts will take 12 hours in the course of two weeks.
2. Elective Courses
Each of these courses will be seminar-like and will have a particular focus related in some form or another to one or more of the core courses. They are shorter in length, each one of them is only three hour long and the student is required to pick four of them from a menu of eight or ten courses. The list of electives include:
2.1 Organization and Leadership
2.2 Strategic Planning
2.3 Islamic Financial Systems
2.4 Faith-Based Entrepreneurship
2.5 Islamic Reform Movements
2.6 Media Criticism
2.7 Comparative Religion
2.8 Research Methods for Islamic Studies
Each student is expected to declare a specific area of interest for research from the ones mentioned in (1) and (2) above. Accordingly, the student will be assigned a supervisor from the faculty of IIIT or from IIIT associate faculty members. The supervisor will help the student identify a specific topic for research, develop a research plan and in the process of conducting the research itself. Each student should pick a topic no later than the end of the second week ( i.e Friday, July 11th ); submit a research proposal by July 18th, a final draft by August 15th and the completed finished paper no later than August 22. The last five days of the program ( August 24-28 ) will be dedicated to the presentations and discussion of student research papers, beside the graduation ceremony.
4. Administrative Work
The student is expected to contribute four hours of administrative work each week. The specific area of work will be determined by the Director of the Program and according to need, but the interest of the student will be taken into consideration.
IIIT will provide a stipend of $800 per month to each student as long as they are in good standing during the program.
6. Housing and Transportation
IIIT will facilitate securing adequate housing in the Reston/Herndon area for those interns who need it. Transportation to and from IIIT is the responsibility of the student. For those who do not have their own means of transportation, IIIT encourages them to carpool with fellow students or – otherwise – live in proximity to a bus route.
Each student must have adequate health insurance coverage. IIIT does not provide health insurance coverage to interns and will not be responsible for any medical expenses incurred by the student during the program.
8. Special Needs
The student must declare at the time of application any special needs he/she may have.